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Ema-Joanne M. Brauchler 1
Rosy foliage tops off tall oak and maple trees around the lake at Laurel Acres Park.
October in Burlington County carries an easy chill that almost burns off with the mid-day sun.
The crowd of hundreds start to gather around the ready-made stage. Men, women, and children
of all ages, races, shapes and sizes, from New Jersey to Georgia, have gathered at the park.
Around them, everything is flaming with autumnal beauty, but they are not there to celebrate a
cool October. The multitude of people are here today to open about their struggles with mental
illness, and to build a support system for their local community as a stepping-stone towards
It's possible that such a beautiful park is an unlikely place for an event to discuss such a
vital and disheartening issue. Suicide is not beautiful. Mental illness is not beautiful. However,
the healing that this community supports is what makes the cyclical growth of Laurel Acres Park
an appropriate setting. Here today, families gather together as a thriving body of people, all
bound by a history of hardship. The Burlington County 'Out of the Darkness' walk is a place to
remember lost loved ones, to cope with illness, and to put faith in a healthy step towards mental
Annually since the fall of 2016, Mount Laurel, NJ is home to its Burlington county's only
walk to fight suicide. A branch of the AFSP's (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
"Out of the Darkness" community, this walk has a home in all 50 states. Over the past several
years, the Burlington County chapter has gained the participation and attention of a growing
number of families in and around Mount Laurel. From across the East Coast, these families raise
money in support of the dissolution of the suicide epidemic in America. While the AFSP began
this walk to support people who suffer from mental illness, these advocacy events are helping
families cope with the loss of a loved one, or the struggle of mental illness in their home. While
The Importance of Familial Wellness for Healing
Ema-Joanne M. Brauchler 2
appropriately treating mental health issues is paramount to a sustainable lifestyle, what often
goes unacknowledged is the impact that such illnesses have on the family as a whole. Healthy
coping mechanisms are as important for the family unit as for the person struggling with mental
illness. Without adequate support, people struggling with mental illness are less likely to heal
wholly and completely. There are countless data that strong familial support makes a significant
difference in the physical and mental health of a person. The AFSP and organizations like it are
working to involve the whole family in the development of healthy lifestyles so that the cultural
According to Ron Shor, PhD and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along
with co-author Anat Shalev, MSW of Beer Sheva Mental Health Center in Israel, their
experiment which implemented a program called the Family Members Support and Consultation
(FMSC) services for families of people with a severe mental illness was highly successful. The
professionals designed the program to provide a wealth of support systems to the families which
barriers" (69-70).
The experiment mentioned above can be loosely compared to issues that the AFSP wishes to
address with the Out of the Darkness walk. There are several instances where the experiment
extends beyond the capabilities that the AFSP can offer to its supporters and dependents.
However, the experiment's article details a program that was put in place to support families
which subsequently succeeded. In comparison, while the AFSP is much more informal and
The Importance of Familial Wellness for Healing
Ema-Joanne M. Brauchler 3
widespread than a singular program in an Israel hospital, the experiment is proof that external
support is hugely significant to family relations, and to the healing process for all involved. The
results of this experiment can only reaffirm the importance of the AFSP community events
As the AFSP expands their efforts to cease the suicide epidemic in America, it is critical
communication and support, healing will be made much easier for the person with a mental
illness. By bringing an AFSP event to a location near you, you are supporting the dissolution of
suicide in America. By supporting your nearest event, you are contributing to the education of
your friends and neighbors, and to the backing of people who struggle with mental illness in your
community.
Awareness and education are the first steps towards change; therefore, make it your goal
today to learn something new about how mental illness may affect you, your family, or your
neighbors. And tomorrow, make it your goal to learn how you, like Kyra, can help better your
community.
The Importance of Familial Wellness for Healing
Ema-Joanne M. Brauchler 4
Works Cited
(1) Shor, Ron, and Anat Shalev. “The Significance of Services in a Psychiatric Hospital for
Family Members of Persons with Mental Illness.” Family, Systems, & Health, vol. 33, no.
ln.researchport.umd.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=c8b083c7-9d5e-49f4-9f23-
b199e1c09d95%40sessionmgr4008&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2
l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=2014-52630-001&db=pdh.